Zahra,though,went through rucks with rumps with daring. Yes,Without A Fight scored easily,but a check as he weaved a passage could have brought him undone.

Great rides take the Melbourne Cup and every winner requires a measure of expertise,but Zahra’s effort ranked with my best – Mick Dittman on Gurner’s Lane (1982),Jim Cassidy’s effort guiding Might And Power (1997),and Craig Williams getting Vow And Declare home in 2019. Vow And Declare was ninth yesterday.

On recent saddle form,Zahra went into the Melbourne Cup a worthwhile opponent for the best. Another highly regarded international hoop,Joao Moreira,couldn’t get a clean break at the start on Soulcombe,which chased home Without A Fight but never looked the winner.

Soulcombe is prepared by Chris Waller,as was the third-placed Sheraz,confirming the trainer’s knack with metric two milers.

Of course,Zahra notched the first leg of the major Melbourne double by taking the Caulfield Cup on Without A Fight.

Ollie’s last ride in the Melbourne Cup,Alenquer,which was under a fitness cloud,finished even further back then Gold Trip. Hard track issues?

Zahra was regarded as more of a country jockey when he left the West. He was tempted to Wodonga in Victoria and then upgraded to a stint at Lindsay Park with Tony McEvoy before becoming established in Melbourne.

Oliver,although an apprentice when he moved to Victoria,arrived with a big reputation,as did Damian Lane,who has done so well in the major centres recently.

Maybe Banjo Paterson reckoned as judges of racing jockeys are the “absolute worst”,but he never had one the calibre of Mark Zahra,who yesterday went wherever horse and man could go.

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